Last day of the holidays meeting friends at @rbgkew.bsky.social. Cold but beautiful🥶❄️ ❤️

I’m really looking forward to the second Inkbound story by Phillipa Leathley and loads more this year, which I’ve listed on a page on my blog: worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/upcoming-rea...

Final walk of the holidays. Richmond Park again but this time with a dusting of snow and frost. Can you spot the deer in the last two? He was so majestic and proud as he trotted along. Time outdoors, a gorgeous view and lovely chat with family - just perfect ❤️

Shout out to anyone else trying to pretend the world has gone back to normal while still eating Christmas chocolate for breakfast.

Why not make your wish list even bigger for the start of the year.

I think a gentle start to a new year of #KidsBooksFriday is in order. Did anyone (or the kids in your lives) get any good books over Christmas or is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to reading in 2026? My suggestions in the photos / captions. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

This from @markgoodrich.bsky.social, is one of the only reasons I've found where I wish I were still on twitter - so I could share it to encourage others to leave open.substack.com/pub/markgood...

Happy New Year's Eve everyone. If you are a teacher (or indeed anyone) still posting on X, I have a suggested New Year's Resolution for you. Stop! If you agree, please REPOST here and on X if you maintain an account there. open.substack.com/pub/markgood...

My contribution to said national year of reading will involve waving this at people if they get funny about kids reading comics/audiobooks/books that are "too young" for them/funny books/books that aren't 500 pages long etc. lokibooks.com/lokifesto/ #GoAllIn #Lokifesto #UkKidlit

Just back from another chilly walk in Richmond Park and about to start my first book of the year but decided to do a very self-indulgent look back at the books I read in 2025 first. It would be impossible to choose a favourite so I have picked a memorable one from each month. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit

It's the national year of reading in the uk in 2026. Instead of asking "why don't kids read any more", ask "how can I help them find the stories (and non fic) they will fall in love with". Less "get off my lawn whippersnappers" and more "come, sit on the lawn, here's a comic".

Happy New Year! In 2025 I read 251 books - as ever, lots these were relatively quick reads. These were my favourite children's/YA books @bconaghanauthor.bsky.social @philipreeve.bsky.social @nmgarrard.bsky.social @whusseyauthor.bsky.social @tiafisher.bsky.social

My 25 for 2025 round up of the best children’s books I’ve read this year. Happy New Year to everyone I’ve interacted with on here 🥳 #UkKidLit vsviewfromthebookshelves.home.blog/2025/12/31/2...

Two books to look out for in 2026 👀 Bridge of Storms is set in the world of Mortal Engines, and is the first of two sequels to Thunder City. Of Mice and Mummies is the eighth book in the Adventuremice series, co-authored and illustrated by @sarahmcintyre.bsky.social Happy New Year!

Started the last day of the year with a freezing but gorgeous walk around Richmond Park - a short time outside in changing light to appreciate the beautiful calm of nature. Feel so lucky to live near this.

What children's books are you excited about for 2026? This one has caught my eye - more kidlit about fascism pls (I may currently be writing a children's book about fascism). www.waterstones.com/book/the-min... #KidLitUK #UKKidlit

And you know what, if you love your fantasy full of gender feels but light on magic, I have the book for you too. SPLINTER & ASH is full of swordfighting, found family, secret passages, and an intrepid nonbinary squire who plans to show the stuffy nobles around her just what legends are made of.

It's almost impossible to choose a favourite children's book from 2025 as there have been so many great ones published but, if pushed, what would yours be? These would be very high on my list. I'll add the suggestions to my bookshop.org page. uk.bookshop.org/lists/best-c...

WIN STUFF It’s not out till February but I’ve got a couple of these samplers of The Far-out Five to give away. Type your middle name in the comments to enter - if you don’t have a middle name unfortunately you are ineligible (or you could just make one up it’s not like I’m going to check is it)

Well, I seem to be back on Blue Sky, so straight into a catch up of my #LIteraryAdventCalendar2025. Day 1, and it's one of my all-time favourites: journalist Lynn Barber attempts to interview Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, (ultra posh, with a scandalous past) about her book on dinner parties.

It has been a joy and privilege to meet so many enthusiastic teachers and keen young readers and writers during my school visits this year. Hope you all have a wonderful winter break and a Merry Christmas.

There is so much, much more to read in kids’ books than Walliams or Rowling. It’s an embarrassingly rich world. Check out @louiestowell.bsky.social or @nadiashireen.bsky.social or any number of glorious, funny, heartfelt titles. You’ve got such treats in store without spending blood money.

I had intended to take this week off #KidsBooksFriday, but somehow I feel a sudden urge to celebrate funny, readable books by folk who are not despicable humans. Please do join me with your recommendations. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit

Here's a n excellent idea for a last-minute Christmas present, although you should never need a reason to buy a book by @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social . This one is set in Bath and is a great story of family as well as a murder mystery. And I love #ElisaPaganelli's front cover @nosycrow.bsky.social

Walliams!!!!!!!!! #KidlitUk #UkKidlit

I’ve created an emoji quiz for the end of term newsletter. Hopefully the clues will lead you to a book/series - inspired by those we have in our junior school library! Slightly concerned it’s a bit too difficult 😬 #KidLitUK #UKKidLit

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

Day 12, Picture Fiction for Early Readers: 'Dim Sum Palace' by X. Fang. A mouthwatering adventure with culture and charm. @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 12, Non-Fiction: 'Blitz' by Martin Impey. Inspired by family history, this visual account of one family’s experience of the London Blitz is notable for its attention to detail and outstanding draughtsmanship. (Harbour Moon) @martinimpey.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 12, 7+ Fiction: 'Leo and Ralph' by Peter Carnavas. When lonely Leo discovers a furry alien named Ralph in his garden, an extraordinary friendship begins. @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 12, 9+ Fiction: 'Shrapnel Boys' by Jenny Pearson. As the Blitz rages, Ronnie faces his own fight to stop his brother being led into a dangerous, shadowy world. (Usborne) #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 12, 11+ Fiction: 'The Uninvited' by Ross MacKenzie. Two boys, one broken world, and a secret that could shatter both realms. @andersenpress.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators of the 12 longlisted books in our Picture Fiction for Early Readers category! #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

Congratulations to the brilliant authors and illustrators of the 12 longlisted books in our Non-Fiction category! #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Congratulations to the amazing authors and illustrators of the 12 longlisted books in our 7+ Fiction category! #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Congratulations to the fantastic authors and illustrators of the 12 longlisted books in our 9+ Fiction category! #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

And finally, congratulations to the authors and illustrators of the 12 excellent longlisted books in our 11+ Fiction category! #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 11, 7+ Fiction: 'Grumpfort' by Jamie Hammond. Step into Grumpfort for a marvellous monster-filled adventure packed with mystery, mayhem and laughs. (Usborne) #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 11, 9+ Fiction: 'Small Wonder' by Ross Montgomery. Follow Tick into the wild, where deadly cold and a kingdom in peril turn protecting his little brother into an epic adventure. @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social @mossmontmomery.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 11, 11+ Fiction: 'Wolf Siren' by Beth O’Brien. Will Red Riding Hood be able to resist the lure of the forest in order to save the wolves and protect her family secret? @harpercollins.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 11, Picture Fiction for Early Readers: 'The Worried Book' by Howard Pearlstein & James Munro. A comforting companion for anxious minds and big feelings. @graffegbooks.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Day 11, Non-Fiction: 'Frog' by Isabel Thomas & Daniel Egneus. Awe and wonder are exquisitely conveyed through well-matched poetic text, vibrant artwork, and thoughtful design. @kidsbloomsbury.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Here are almost 40 of my favourite #MiddleGrade reads for 2025. A fantastic range from wild fantasy, to gritty realism, historical adventures and more than a few scares. What a brilliant year its been for children’s books

This week #IAmReading #MurderAtChristmas by @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social, and it's the season for strange hotels, mysterious guests, suspicious staff, dead bodies and kidnap… Page-turning fun from a queen of middle-grade murder! 👉 alastairc.com/i-am-reading... @nosycrow.bsky.social #KidLitUk

I think #KidsBooksFriday might need a wee break for the next couple of weeks. So let’s use this week to celebrate our favourite kids book reads of 2025. Doesn’t need to be something published this year. Hope everyone’s bookish wishes come true this Christmas!🎄🎁 📚 #UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidLit